Eruption Cysts In Babies

The first time you notice a tooth poking through the baby’s gums is a memorable experience for most parents. However, it's terrifying for parents, especially new parents, to discover a mysterious bump, lesion, or bruise on their child's body. Seeing a bluish-purple lump prominently situated on their gums can be very scary. These bumps, which are called eruption cysts or eruption hematomas, are common when a child's new teeth are erupting. Read on to know more about the eruption cysts in babies.

What are eruption cysts in babies?

Before a tooth fully emerges into the oral cavity of a child, it may first manifest as an eruption cyst, a fluid-filled sac of soft tissue. They have a dome shape and tend to be coloured or clear. There is a tendency for the lesion to develop on the front teeth and molars, though it may occur anywhere along the dental arch. Let's analyse the evolution of an eruption cyst. Your baby's teeth develop in a special socket in the jawbone at first. When the primary teeth have finished developing, they will erupt through the gums and into the mouth. Eruption cysts may form if fluid accumulates between the developing tooth and gum due to leaks in the enclosing sac. These hematomas are typically nonpainful and can appear brown, bluish-purple, dark red, or translucent.

How long does it take for a cystic eruption to clear up?

When the tooth breaks through the gums, the eruption cyst usually disappears within a few days to a few weeks. However, in certain instances, if the tooth is growing slowly or is impacted, the eruption cyst can last up to four months.

Signs of eruption cysts

Eruption cysts are both unpleasant to look at and uncomfortable to have. The good news is that most eruption cysts will burst on their own, without causing any significant pain or discomfort. 

Common symptoms of an eruption cyst are as follows:

• Blemish, bump, or bruise on a developing tooth that appears blueish-purple or reddish-brown.
• It can also appear as blue, yellow, white, or clear cysts on the child's gums.
• Eruption cyst fluid may occasionally contain a trace of blood. This gives the cyst a pink, red, or purple hue.
• The region around the eruption cyst may also be slightly swollen, painful, or red.
• It sometimes looks like a spongy, balloon-like protrusion along the gum line just above the growing tooth.
• Whether they occur singly or in clusters, most eruption cysts are smaller than half an inch in diameter.

Do eruption cysts require treatment?

In the majority of cases, eruption cysts are harmless and do not necessitate any special treatment. They typically appear four days before the tooth erupts, are ruptured when the tooth emerges, and then heal within a few days. However, the cyst may need to be treated if it does not rupture on its own or if it develops an infection. The most prevalent method is surgical removal. In situations like this, the tooth that was underneath the cyst will typically emerge within a few weeks of having surgery performed on it. At the same time, you should consult your child's dentist if you notice anything out of the ordinary in their mouth, for your peace of mind and to be on the safe side. Once a diagnosis of an eruption cyst has been made, monitoring it is all that is required. Still, if the tooth hasn't broken through the gums after a few weeks, a minor surgical procedure may be required.

When should you take your child to the dentist?

If your baby's eruption cyst persists for more than a few weeks, or if you notice anything else out of the ordinary with his or her gums, you should consult your paediatrician or paediatric dentist. Likewise, if you notice any bleeding or white pus on the gums, you should make an appointment with your child's paediatrician.

Dental hygiene is something that should be prioritized at any age; after all, even infants can develop cavities. Before your child turns two, it's important to start taking him or her for regular dental check-ups. Start cleaning your baby's gums with a soft, sterile washcloth before they even have teeth. When the first few teeth appear, you can switch to a baby toothbrush with extra-gentle bristles.

FAQs

1. Are eruption cysts and dentigerous cysts the same?

Dentigerous cysts and eruption cysts are not the same. However, it is often misunderstood as eruption cysts. A dentigerous cyst is a fluid-filled sac that forms over a tooth that has yet to erupt. Unlike an eruption cyst, which can be popped and heals after the tooth erupts, a dentigerous cyst frequently develops when a tooth cannot erupt properly and may require dental treatment to treat. Both surgical and draining procedures known as marsupialization are commonly used to get rid of a dentigerous cyst.

2. How common are eruption cysts?

Infants rarely develop eruptive cysts. It is possible for older children under the age of ten to develop eruptive cysts. Specifically, they occur most frequently between the ages of 6 and 9, when many children are getting their first set of permanent molars.

3. How long do eruption cysts last? 

Once the tooth has broken through the gums, an eruption cyst typically goes away within a few days to a few weeks. In cases where the tooth is developing slowly or has been damaged, the eruption cyst may remain for up to 4 months.